The School of Accountancy at Missouri State University will now be known as the Pendleton Family School of Accountancy.

“This milestone moment — the university’s first named school — was made possible thanks to a significant seven-figure gift from alumnus Dick Pendleton and his three daughters (Sheri Law, Sally Phillips and Tracy Myrick),” said Missouri State Foundation executive director Brent Dunn.

The university announced the gift and naming today (Feb. 9) at a special ceremony on campus.

“We’re grateful to Dick and his family for their commitment to advancing accounting education in the College of Business,” said President Richard B. Williams. “It’s an honor for our School of Accountancy to bear the Pendleton Family name and we’re excited to continue a lasting partnership with them.”

An investment in the future of accounting

Pendleton graduated with a business finance degree in 1966 from what was then Southwest Missouri State College. He began his career at Baird, Kurtz and Dobson in Springfield, a relatively small Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm with three offices. There, he was able to put his accounting education to work in meaningful ways and became a CPA in 1970 and a tax partner in 1974.

The firm later became known as BKD, growing to 34 offices, and after a merger of equals in 2021 and the formation of its global network in 2024, is now Forvis Mazars, a top 10 global professional services network. Missouri State has played a significant role in BKD’s and Forvis’s development through its accounting graduates.

“My education at Southwest Missouri State gave me a strong foundation — not just in accounting, but in discipline, ethics and problem solving,” Pendleton said. “The degree I earned opened doors throughout my career, and I’ve always felt fortunate and proud to be a graduate of the university.”

He added that seeing two of his daughters go on to become CPAs has been proudly rewarding and speaks to their family’s value of the profession. Two of his granddaughters are also on track to become accountants.

“Leaving a family legacy is especially meaningful to me. Supporting the accounting program at Missouri State allows me to give back in a way that matters — by investing in future CPAs, supporting the school’s faculty and helping ensure that every student who chooses accounting at Missouri State receives a high-quality educational experience.”

Currently, the Pendleton Family School of Accountancy has:

• Nearly 600 undergraduate and graduate students
• Twelve faculty members, including school director Kimberly Church

The Pendleton Family gift is centered on students and faculty, elevating the teaching, learning and mentorship that define the school.

“This gift strengthens every aspect of our school,” said Dr. David Meinert, dean and David D. Glass distinguished leadership chair, of the College of Business. “By expanding access through scholarships, supporting faculty excellence and enhancing experiential learning, it ensures our accounting graduates are prepared to lead and innovate in a rapidly evolving profession.”

Explore the Pendleton Family School of Accountancy